Barbers Hill downs Dawson to advance to state softball tourney

Randi Rupp was up before the sun Friday, too excited about the approaching game to go back to sleep.

Now she's living in a dream.

The senior supplied two RBIs and picked up the win in the circle and twin sister Sara Rupp hit a grand slam as Barbers Hill beat Dawson 12-3 to sweep their Class 4A Region III championship softball series.

Now they're taking their No. 1 ranking and 32-0 record to state.

"This is just a dream come true," said Randi Rupp, who finished 5-for-8 with five RBIs in the two games at Goose Creek Memorial.

Dawson (27-12) scored more earned runs than Rupp had allowed all season, but that didn't slow Barbers Hill, which scored 12 runs on 13 hits, including a pinch home run by Jade Lewis in the sixth.

Then again, nothing has slowed Barbers Hill, including the loss of coach Perri Smith, who resigned last week after she was put on administrative leave before the team's area-round playoff series.

"We knew that we had an unfortunate circumstance that happened, and so we didn't make that our primary focus," interim coach Sharlene Barnett said. "Our focus still was state, and we knew that we had a lot of work to do to get there, and we still have more work to do."

Dawson jumped out 1-0 on an error in the first, but Barbers Hill responded with a four-run second inning.

"Hats off to Barbers Hill and their kids," said coach David McCorkle, who took Dawson to its first regional final. "They're 32-0 for a reason."

The Woodlands 2 Rockwall 1

The Highlanders slipped past Rockwall in Waco to sweep their Class 5A Region II championship series and capture a spot in the state tournament for the second time in four years.

Huffman Hargrave 12 Columbia 0

Christina Bardwell hit a grand slam in her second straight game, helping the Falcons secure their first state berth in a six-inning, one-game Class 3A Region III final at Clear Falls.

Megan Unroe earned the win with a no-hitter.

East Bernard 7, Natalia 1

The Brahmas jumped on Natalia early and didn't let up en route to a win in their one-game Class 2A Region IV final.

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